Palladium(0)-catalyzed trimerization of arylisocyanates into 1,3,5-triarylisocyanurates in the presence of diimines: a nonintuitive mechanism.

We show here that palladium(0) (dibenzylideneacetone) complexes bearing 1,10-phenanthroline constitute efficient catalysts for the cyclotrimerization of aromatic isocyanates. For the first time, the mechanism of this reaction has been investigated experimentally and theoretically with group 10 catalysts. This investigation provides a very consistent picture of the catalytic cycle.

PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala variant is associated with greater insulin sensitivity in childhood obesity.

Several genetic variants of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPAR-gamma2), a molecule known to be involved in transcription of target genes, have been identified. Pro12Ala, a missense mutation in exon 2 of the gene, is highly prevalent in Caucasian populations. Conflicting conclusions about the association between this mutation and complex traits such as obesity, insulin sensitivity, and T2DM have been reported.

Synthesis and structural studies of binuclear platinum(II) complexes with a novel phosphorus-nitrogen-phosphorus ligand.

The new pyridinediphosphinite ligand PONOP (1) was synthesized in one step from 2,6-pyridinedimethanol and diphenylchlorophosphane. Reaction of 1 with PtCl(2)(PhCN)(2) led to the neutral homobimetallic complex [Pt(2)Cl(4)(PONOP)(2)] (2), where the benzonitriles have been substituted by the phosphorus atoms of 1. The X-ray structure of 2 revealed a metallamacrocycle where the pyridines remained free.

Versatile Ligands for Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation.

Palladium complexes of the chiral diphosphanes 1 and 2 which possess a rigid backbone and a large bite angle catalyze the alkylation of allyl compounds with both high enantioselectivities and reaction rates, particularly with less sterically demanding substrates. 1: R=Me, X=S; 2: R=H, X=C(CH ) .

Mechanistic Implications of the Observation of Kinetic Resolution in a Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Alkylation.

Preferential rotation in substrate-palladium intermediates in a catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation is proposed to be responsible for both the observed kinetic resolution of the racemic allylic acetate starting material as well as the high selectivity found in the enantiodiscriminating product-forming step [Eq. (a)].